Things you dont expect to see at your mailbox #1

larger

There are some things you expect to see when you go down to the mailbox to get the mail...

... a pair of vultures shredding a squirrel is not generally one of them.

The shots I got are of dubious quality as I was somewhat surprised at what I was disturbing... or should that be somewhat disturbed at what I was surprising... I guess either way works!

I quickly got my camera out of the bag, and cursed the fact I only had the kit lens on. By the time I got my camera out one had taken flight and the other flew away very soon after. I managed to get one shot of the last one on the ground them several on the air before he landed on the roof above our bedroom. A new 6ft redhead "bird" in the bedroom is not always a good thing.

Alternates.
-Flying past the tree. Possibly a better shot of the bird, but I wanted the mailbox in the shot I used, to show where it was.
-Dont click if you dont want to see a tiny bit of gore. Not really gore but I thought I'd better warn anyways.
-Taking flight. Abysmal shot, how I would have loved this one to have come out better.

Anyone prefer a different shot... Heres the whole flickr set to make your mind up :-)

Flickr set. Should work well as a slideshow... I like the fact I got the shots, but I really wish they could have been better.

The birds are called Turkey Vultures.

Trivia from the book.
-The vultures ugly bald head is so it can stay clean while feeding on "messy" carcasses
-A threatened Turkey Vulture will often throw up. The odor of its vomit repulses attackers.

Well you learn something new every day dont you!